Abubakar Ahmadu Maishanu, Jigawa
The Jigawa State government on Tuesday said it would no longer sponsor the office of Amirul Hajj to the kingdom of Saudi Arabia as leader of intending pilgrims from the state.
It said the aim was to cut down the cost of running governance and channel the fund to more useful purposes.
The state’s executive secretary for pilgrim welfare board, Sani Alhassan, told journalists that the office of the Amirul hajj is now open for individuals and religious institutions for sponsorship.
Before this announcement, the office of the Amirul Hajj in Jigawa is being occupied by a traditional ruler with numbers of his palace guard as office aide that travel with him to the holy land.
Mr Alhassan also said the state’s pilgrims board have sold 893 hajj seats out of 1472 seats allocated to the state by the National Hajj Commission.
All travel visa for the intending pilgrims from the state is ready. Arrangements for the airlift of the state’s pilgrims on the July 28 has been concluded, Mr Alhassan added.
He added that intending pilgrims from Jigawa have received a discount of N116, 000 put together the discount from the National Hajj Commission and the state’s efforts for secured a discount on hotel accommodation from Saudi Arabia.
